While you nurse your post-Boxing Day hangover on the sofa, watch Dr Who on iPlayer and considering which of your presents to return first, I’ll be on 22 hours worth of flights to go for a long walk. Up a mountain. At the start of raining session.

And while you enjoy a few glasses too many and sing Auld Lang Syne, I’ll be asleep in a cold tent. Why? You ask a good question. I forget. But hey, it’s booked now so I better make the best of it.

After one day, two flight transfers and three border checks, I’ll arrive in Cuzco – a town close to the start of the Inca Trail. I’ll have a couple of days to get use to the altitude (have a mentioned I get bad migraines) and then four days of trekking through Huayllabamba, Cross Dead Woman's Pass, through the ruins of Runquracay and Inca steps on the day to Machu Picchu.  

With my feet aching, head pounding and waterproof-ness of my waterproofs being tested, I’ll have a lot of time to think about all of you in your warm living rooms. So please considering preempting those thoughts with a sponsorship, with all that money going to Marie Curie.

Every day Marie Curie nurses help those with terminal illness and their families. It’s a big and important job, ensuring those dying receive the care, support and pain relief they need to spend those last few days and hours with the ones they love. In the darkest hours, our nurses are there. But it’s not the only thing we do.

Today thousands of people will visit important pages on our website to read information about subjects like the moments before death. Sitting next to their loved one in a hospital bed, outside in the corridor or (if they’re ‘lucky’) in their bedroom at home, they turn to the Marie Curie website for comfort and support. Keeping a website visited by over two million people a year takes a lot time by some very talented teams and I have the immense privilege of working with them while they do their thing.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.